Here are some dynamite tips from Frankie Cameron, national account manager for Bellacor Lighting based in Mendota Heights, Minn., and Mark Lambert, owner of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen in Bellingham, Wash.
1. Start underneath
"The least-expensive, easiest layer to add is under-cabinet lighting,"says Cameron. She suggests low-voltage xenon bulbs in varying lengths to light counters or islands below shelves or cabinets, but recommends steering clear of small "puck"lights. "They give your counters and shelves these odd spots of light and you can see some models plainly,"she says.
2. Choose a ceiling light for now and later
"If your ceiling mount fixture is outdated, replace it with a newer model that has a nice finish and gives off a nice light, but isn't overly embellished,"says Cameron. "You want to make sure it will work with a contemporary or traditional décor."
3. Pick out the popular stuff
For mood-setting (or ambient) lights, Lambert says you can't go wrong with two established trends: the pendant light and the track light.
"One of the more interesting brands of track lighting is Tech Lighting — a bit costly, but very cool stuff over an island or counter,"he says.
Glass pendant lights have also been holding their own in the kitchen market for some time, says Cameron, because they are fresh and pretty and can still work with different décors.
4. Decorate, but impersonally
A little decorative lighting is a nice touch in a kitchen and that, too, can be achieved with art-glass pendant lamps, says Cameron: "Many of the handblown fixtures can really add to the overall aesthetic in a kitchen."
5. Suit someone else
Whether you're choosing modest or lavish decorative lights, remember that you're not looking for the style that most appeals to you but for the one that's most likely to enhance the value of the kitchen.
6. Stick to one look
There are a lot of really nice, really pretty kitchen lights on the market, and potential buyers will probably expect to see some of them in the finest kitchens. That said, make sure any replacement lights you purchase match the current décor or are neutral enough to work with the wishes of the future homeowners
